After topping practice on Friday afternoon, the Briton secured pole for the opening Jerez race with a time of 1m26.978s.

"That was unexpected," he admitted. "I did drive the Formula Renault 3.5 car during the rookie test last year and in winter testing, as I was considering this championship, but we didn't get too deep into it.

"However, I know the team, I know the circuit and I sort of know the car.

"If I get away cleanly in the race today we should be on for a good result, as it is so difficult to overtake here."

SMP Racing pair Matevos Isaakyan and Matthieu Vaxiviere claimed second and third spots on the grid, Isaakyan 0.197 seconds shy of Aitken and Vaxiviere 0.633s adrift.